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Holdsworth caps career with crucial final charge

05 Dec 2022
Nail-biting finish helps Penrite Racing beat Erebus
2 mins by James Pavey
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A final stirring charge from 22nd to ninth saw the retiring Lee Holdsworth help Penrite Racing beat Erebus Motorsport.

Holdsworth’s full-time career ended with a second 10-plus-position gain in as many days.

The 2021 Bathurst winner put emotions aside to cap his career with a stunning charge,

By race’s end, Penrite Racing was 10 points to the good over Erebus Motorsport for fifth in the teams’ standings.

Holdsworth lost his radio at the start of the race, making matters worse.

However, Holdsworth sat seventh with 10 laps remaining — crucially, Brodie Kostecki was just behind.

Kostecki and Shane van Gisbergen got past, but ninth was enough for Penrite Racing to hang onto fifth.

Emotions then overflowed in pit lane after Holdsworth — who did a burnout at Turn 9 — returned to the garage.

“It was an enjoyable drive for me today with a lot of passing to finish top 10,” he said.

"I’m happy that I’ve been able to contribute in helping get the team home for fifth in the championship.

“My radio began dropping out at the start of the race, so I was only getting limited chat from the pits which made my race harder today.

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“I had no plans to let van Gisbergen by easily when I was P7 in the last few laps.

“When he got past I slipped off on the dirty track and Brodie Kostecki just got past.”

David Reynolds came home 15th after being wiped out by Will Davison at Turn 9.

Kostecki managed to overhaul Reynolds for eighth overall in the last race.

Reynolds will have a new teammate in Matt Payne for 2023, with Holdsworth’s 511-race career coming to a close.

Holdsworth will shift into full-time commercial real estate, but will race in the enduros next year.

“Thanks to everyone in the team for their work this year,” he said.

“And to the Grove family for giving me the chance to go out on my own terms as a full-time driver.

"I’ll be back for the endurance races next year and I’m looking forward to the next challenge in life and enjoying time with my family."

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next March.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.

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